Edging for lace.



No. 718,139. A PATENTED JAN. 13, 1903. G. W. MERROW & J. T. COLLINS. EDGIVNG FR LACE.

'APLnJA'rIo'ls` FILED SEPT. 15, 1897.

No MODEL.

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GEORGE W. MERROW AND JOHN T. COLLINS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT,

ASSIGNORS TO THE MERROV MACHINE COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CON- NECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

EDGING FOR LACE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N o. 718,139, dated January 13, 1903.

Application filed September 15,1897.

T0 all whom, t may concern: Be it known that we, GEORGE W. MERRO and JOHN T. COLLINS, citizens of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Edging for Lace; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawing, forminga part of this specification, and to the letters ofref erence marked thereon.

The object of our present invention is to produce economically and rapidly a superior edge linish for lace or similaropen -work fabrics, one closely simulating a selvage finish, harmonizing with the general texture of the goods, and constituting a durable andinexpensive protective and ornamental border for the cut edges of open-Work fabrics.

Heretofore in themanufacturerof lace curtains and similar articles constructed from open-work fabric it has been the custom to cut or trim the edges of the fabric on the (lesired lines-such as scallops, points, dac. -and then apply a binding-tape to the cut edges, or, as a substitute therefor, to lay one or more cords along the cut edge and apply overseamstitches thereto, the overseaming engaging the edge of the fabric and embracing the cord or cords, so as to confine the latter in place. The products of both of said methods are defective, the iirst being clumsy and unattractive, besides being expensive, while the second is deficient in strength and enduring qualities, there being no sufficient support for the overedge-stitches, especially at the more' open portions of the work, while the thread or threads laid along the cutedges being loosely embraced by the overedge-stitches draws out easily, thereby greatly impairing 4'the appearance and stability of the edge. To overcome these and other defects incident to the finishes referred to,'weapply a line of straight-ahead stitches, either single or double thread, near the edge of the lace, following the outline of the edge desired, and then apply overedge-stitches,. so as to cover the edge and engage the line of 'straight-ahead stitching. The eect of this is to reinforce `edges.

Serial No. 651,772. (N0 Specimens.)

the edge of the fabric, by means of the line of straight-ahead stitches, by connecting and binding together the threads and bridging the intervals where the work is more open by a connected-chain of stitches, so that when the overedgestitching is applied it will embrace andbe supported by the line of straight ahead stitches and form a secure and ornamental iinish, possessing the requisite body, completely covering and protecting the cut The trimming of the fabric may be performed either before, after, or during the application of the line of straight ahead stitches, asufficient margin being left beyond said line of foundation-stitches to insure Atheir firm attachment to the fabric, thus not meshes.

Any of the well-known overseaming or over- -edge stitchingnnachines or methods may be employed0 to form the final finishing edge, either single or double thread stitches being used for thepurpose, although we prefer t0 make use of a double-thread overseam-stitch such as that formed bythe machine of the Merrow patent, No. 591,049, dated October 5, 1897, as it has been found to produce a very neat, ornamental, and durable edging when applied in connection with the foundation-line of straight-ahead stitches, as hereinbefore explained.

The accompanying drawing serves to illustrate our invention.

The open Work lace fabric A is cut or trimmed in the form of points and scallops, resulting in the production of what is known as a raw edge B,composed of the loose ends of the severed threads of the fabric situated at different distances apart and projecting at diierent angles,with comparatively wider intevals of irregular extent. Within the bodyr of the fabric, near the cut edge, is formed a line of straight-ahead stitches C, which latter serve not only to reinforce the weakened edge, but also add to the bodythereof and form a connection or bridge, as at c, spanning the larger gaps in the edge of the fabric, so that `when the overedge stitching or finish D is applied it will be supported and held secure,

IOO

not by the weakened and mutilated edge of the fabric alone, but by the fabric reinforced by the line of stitches C. In passing across the larger intervals the overedge-stitches D embrace the line of stitches O, which latter being formed in and secured to the body of the fabric becomes in effect a part thereof, affording a secure basis upon which to form a continuation of the overedge nish, which elsewhere embraces and hides the projecting ends of the threads.

As before mentioned, any suitable means may be employed for forming the line of stitches O near the cut edge of the fabric; but we prefer to use a sewing-machine provided with an automatic trimming attachment, as by so doing We are enabled to perform the two operations at once, at the same time properly locating the line of foundation or marginal stitches C at the proper distance from the cut edge. It is obvious, however, that the formation of the line of stitching C may either precede orlfollow the trimming or both take place at the same time, the only requisite being theapplication of the foundation chain of stitches in the fabric at a short distance from the raw edge and running lengthwise thereof to serve as a foundation to receive the finishing overedge-stitches.

Having thus fully described our invention, what We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As a new article of manufacture a fabric having spaces therein forming open-work designs extending out at the edge of the fabric, with aline of straight-ahead stitching connecting the threads of the fabric and bridging the spaces such stitching beingin proximity to but at a uniform distance from the edge of the fabric to form a foundation for overedge stitching and overedge stitching embracing said line of straight-ahead stitching and the edge of the fabric to form a finished edge; substantially as described.

GEORGE W. MERROW. JOHN T. COLLINS.

Witnesses:

C. E. SoovILLE, WM. F. YOUNG. 

